Latest news with #Wiganer
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wigan Athletic fans pay tribute to one of their own at the ground where he was loved
Fans of Wigan Athletic have left emotional tributes to one of their own. Bouquets and messages have been left around the Dave Whelan statue outside the club's ground to Darren Orme. Darren's body was tragically found 19 days after he went missing. A shirt embossed with the number 54, his age, was draped on the plynth of the statue. One message referring to Darren's allegiance to the town's football team and rugby league side, Wigan Warriors, said: "Red or Blue. A Wiganer through and through. God bless Darren." READ MORE: After years of failure, Rochdale Boroughwide Housing is now improving READ MORE: Man killed after being hit by van in 'road rage' horror Tributes have poured in for a much-loved Wigan Athletic fan, Darren, who was a hugely popular figure among Latics supporters who had known the devoted fan for decades. Blue balloons, scarves, shirts, and spring flowers were left for him today. Dozens of Wiganers pulled together in community search efforts in the days following his disappearance on March 5. Police announced on Monday afternoon (March 24) that a body had been pulled from the River Douglas near to Stadium Way, in the shadow of Darren's beloved Latics' ground, The Brick Community Stadium. In a statement issued on Monday, a Wigan Athletic club spokesperson said: "We are devastated to learn that a body has been found in the search for Darren Orme. "Darren is a much-loved member of the Wigan Athletic family, and our thoughts go out to Darren's family and friends at this extremely difficult time." Posting on X, the club's managing director Sarah Guilfoyle added: "Rest assured, we're working with supporter groups and Darren's family to ensure we arrange a proper and fitting tribute. "We'll communicate this in due course. Darren will be fondly remembered by everyone associated with the club, we're devastated." Members of Wigan Athletic fan clubs were among those who had taken part in the search for Darren earlier this month, and many hold fond memories of him. The Official Wigan Athletic Supporters Club posted on X: "Absolutely devastating news this afternoon (Monday). All our thoughts and those of the whole #wafc community are with Darren's family at this time." Wigan Warriors, Rugby League Team posted yesterday: "Darren was known to thousands of supporters for his tireless efforts following Latics, with his passion and devotion always shining through. A recognisable face at both Springfield Park and The Brick Community Stadium, Darren was a much-loved member of the Wigan Athletic family and will be greatly missed by everyone connected to the Football Club. "We join in sending our sincerest condolences to Darren's friends and family, and we ask supporters to respect their privacy during this extremely difficult time. As a Football Club, Wigan Athletic will pay tribute to Darren with a minute's applause at the home fixture against Barnsley on Saturday 29 March (3pm kick-off) whilst a minute's applause will be held at Wigan Warriors' game against Salford on Sunday. "We would like to thank the Wigan community, including supporters of both clubs, for coming together over the last few weeks in search of Darren. We encourage supporters to pay their respects and share their memories of Darren. Flowers, shirts, and scarfs can be laid at The Brick Community Stadium alongside Dave Whelan's statue, while a Book of Condolences will be located in the Stadium Reception for fans to sign. "Supporters can sign the Book of Condolence during opening hours at The Brick Community Stadium reception." Wigan Athletic posted: "We would like to thank all supporters - and the wider Wigan community - for coming together over the last few weeks in search of Darren. We encourage supporters to pay their respects and share their memories of Darren - flowers, shirts, and scarfs can be laid at the Brick Community Stadium outside of Dave Whelan's statue." Supporters can sign the Book of Condolences from 9am on Wednesday 26 March during the Brick Community Stadium reception's opening hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm), in addition to in the South Stand Supporters Bar on matchday.
The Independent
17-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Shaun Edwards: The transcendent Englishman behind France's Six Nations success
Down deep past Perpignan in French Catalan territory, the mantelpiece at Shaun Edwards 's coastal abode is growing ever more crowded. A legend of two rugby codes already possessed a collection of precious metal to rival any Hatton Garden jeweller, but on Saturday, the France defence coach made men's Six Nations history after securing a sixth winners' medal. No man has ever been part of more title-winning set-ups, a second secured with France in their belle epoque to go along with the four won with Wales during Warren Gatland 's golden age. It was not as if Edwards was lacking in trophies and trinkets from his playing days: his nine Challenge Cup crowns are not even a quarter of the prizes secured during his time at Wigan. There was a moment in the minutes after a win over Ireland that transformed the tournament that summed France's defence coach up. Boss Fabien Galthie had followed Edwards down to pitchside, ready to relish in one of the great Six Nations performances. But the Englishman was ticking, furious at the soft concession of two late tries even in a dominant demolition job. Galthie grabbed and grasped his key lieutenant in a clumsy hug; Edwards just about accepting it. The 58-year-old is now long established as rugby union's most influential defensive mind. Along with another code-hopper in Australia's John Muggleton, it is not overstating it to say that Edwards and Gatland's introduction of the blitz system while at Wasps more than two decades ago changed the sport. No ideologue, his structures are based on sound principles but he adapts to each squad at his disposal. Look at how, with defensive captain Gael Fickou absent from the centres, he used Antoine Dupont as a midfield shooter to disrupt Wales in the Six Nations opener. "I've been very lucky all my life. I've always worked with world-class players," Edwards told AFP last week ahead of his 250th international fixture. "What I've learned, or not learned, I already kind of knew it, is that even the best players want to get better. If you, as a coach, can help them get better, you're lucky there." Speak to his peers, and the high esteem Edwards is held in is perfectly clear. Seeking to underline his side's attacking development after the win over Wales, England boss Steve Borthwick displayed their progress and prowess by how they had fared against the Wiganer's defence in the last two years. 'How many teams score four tries against France?' Borthwick asked. 'We did that this year and last year. We've done that two years running. How many teams have done that against Shaun Edwards since he's coached France?' The answer to Borthwick's question? Since Edwards's arrival at the start of 2020, only five times have France conceded a bonus point try in the Six Nations, the two England examples joined by games against Ireland and Wales in 2023, and the Irish again in the opener in 2024. In three recent meetings, the All Blacks haven't managed it, either. Their attacking architecture may draw the eye but Les Bleus are built on solid defensive foundations. Edwards is handsomely rewarded for his role, turning his back on an agreed return to rugby league and Wigan in 2019 to instead take up defensive duties under Galthie. It has proved a shrewd move for both parties, but Edwards's continued excellence raises questions about why a proud patriot has not had an offer from England for nearly 20 years. He was asked to join the staff in 2006, but the relatively recent death of his brother in a car crash meant that, after discussion with his mother, Edwards decided to remain at Wasps. Before signing a new deal with France in 2022, Edwards met Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Bill Sweeney for a walk along the Thames – but there was no contract placed on the table. It is often wondered if Edwards has ambitions to prove himself as a head coach. Ask the man himself and he will tell you he already has – a Premiership and Heineken Cup with Wasps evidence enough of his quality in a primary role. But Edwards would surely not be short of suitors were he to wish to take a top international job. The other looming question is whether a second British and Irish Lions tour might be a possibility. Edwards and Lions boss Andy Farrell are ex-Wigan teammates; the latter captaining the former to great success while leader of the Warriors dynasty in the late 1990s. In January, ahead of the Six Nations, Edwards told The Times that he'd 'swim to Australia' if his old rugby league mucker gave him a call. Alas, it appears that Edwards will not be strapping on his cap and goggles. A group of assistants drawn heavily from Farrell's Ireland staff is likely; the trip Down Under clashes with a marquee series between France and New Zealand. 'I had no idea it was at the same time [as the All Blacks series]. I didn't have a clue," Edwards said last week. "My focus has been this Six Nations. I'm totally, 100% dedicated to the French team.' As, surely, the FFR will be to him. From Toulouse to Toulon, Nantes to Nice, another Six Nations title was one that all of France could celebrate – but there was an Englishman at its centre.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Widnes eye double boost from Warrington cup derby
Widnes Vikings are hoping the Challenge Cup derby against Warrington Wolves this weekend could help them push for the Championship two teams meet for the first time since the Vikings were relegated from Super League in 2018 and executive chairman Stuart Murphy says the revenue the game will generate could make a big difference to their DCBL Stadium could host over 6,000 fans, with the club having to take the West Stand out of mothballs in order to accommodate the interest in the fourth-round tie, with Widnes already battling their way past Rochdale Hornets and North Wales Crusaders to land the plum one-time world champions have fallen on hard times and were rescued from oblivion in 2019 by a consortium which included Wiganer Murphy, who freely admits he still watched his home-town club as well as being committed to the told BBC Radio Merseyside that Saturday's game could be a catalyst for a successful season, with the team having won two out of three Championship matches this season despite a crippling injury list."It's astronomical," he said. "Our average gate brings us £10,000 in. In terms of this game, we've got an awful lot of cost to put it on and get this stand (West Stand) operational etc but in terms of gate receipts, although it's a shared gate with Warrington, we'll probably get more money through the door for this game than we will for the rest of the season." 'Hoping for higher' Murphy said the club "operated really stringently" last year to make sure they remained in the black, "because we needed it for IMG points and everything else. We stayed in the black by under £1,000," he added."We've already been hit by injuries this year that are costing us thousands to get sorted so it's a comfort blanket but also gives (coach) Allan (Coleman) the ability to have more loan players available, or get more players signed on until the end of the year."We were in the frame for challenging anyway. It does give us the ability, if we can get some players in on loan, or some signed for the back end of the year, to challenge."We came fifth last year and are hoping for higher again this year."The lure of playing Super League title challengers Warrington, based just seven miles away, has grabbed the interest of a town which once boasted a team containing greats of the game like Martin Offiah, Alan Tait and Jonathan Davies, and which became the first official World Club champions in 1989-90."We've surpassed 4,200 tickets as of this morning and Warrington have requested more so we've opened additional blocks. I'm hoping that we'll be getting 5,500 to 6,500 people here on Saturday," said Murphy.
